Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 6
Kalamazoo, Mich
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
19-30, 9-12
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Western Michigan
19-26, 10-10
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Eastern Michigan
0
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Western Michigan
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8
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Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Softball's Playoff Hopes Haulted with a Pair of Losses to WMU
5/6/2016 5:26:00 PM | Softball
WIth the losses and other results around the league, the Eagles have been eliminated from the postseason
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Two big innings downed the Eastern Michigan University softball team at Fran Ebert Field Friday, May 6, versus Western Michigan University in Mid-American Conference action. The Eagles (19-31, 9-13 MAC) registered just two hits in the lid-lifter, falling 4-0. In game two, the Broncos (20-26, 11-10 MAC) used an eight-run third to hand the Green and White an 8-2 setback.Along with the sweep and results around the league, EMU has been eliminated from the postseason.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 0, Western Michigan 4
Senior Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) recorded two of the Eagles' three hits in the game, picking up her seventh multi-hit game of the season in a 2-for-3 effort.
The pitching was touched up for eight hits and four runs in the loss, while just two of the four runs were earned. Freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) was handed the loss, lasting just 2.1 innings while allowing two earned runs. Junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) made a relief appearance in the circle. Tossing 3.2 innings, Minsker did not allow an earned run while striking out two.
Miranda and the Eagles ran into trouble in the bottom of the first. A leadoff bloop-single was followed by a sacrifice bunt and a walk, putting two on with one out for WMU, at which point EMU settled in defensively. Miranda battled back in the count and induced a fly out before promptly sending the next batter down on strikes to end Western Michigan's threat and maintain the scoreless tie.
A liner into left popped out of the glove of a diving Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt), putting the leadoff runner aboard for the Broncos in the third. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second before a single laced through the left side gave Western a 1-0 lead with one out. The next batter followed suit, singling to left, forcing EMU to go to the bullpen early. Minsker entered in relief and walked the first batter she faced before back-to-back RBI singles pushed the Broncos' lead to 3-0. After Western tacked on another run, Minsker ended the inning with a strikeout to take the game to the fourth with EMU trailing 4-0.
The Eagles had a chance to get a few back in the fifth. Freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) reached on an errant throw before senior Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) came in as a pinch runner and immediately swiped second. A single through the right side by Duffy put runners at the corners with one out. A ground out moved the runner from first to second, but could not knock in Whitbeck from third before a rundown and a strikeout ended EMU's scoring chance.
From that point on, Minsker kept the Bronco offense at bay, bringing the Eagles to bat in the top of seventh. Trailing 4-0, a two-out single by Duffy was all EMU could muster as the Green and White dropped game one.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 2, Western Michigan 8
Three Eagles picked up multi-hit efforts in the second leg of the twin bill as Clark, Duffy, and sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) recorded two hits apiece. Clark went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Duffy also turned in a 2-for-4 showing with an RBI double. Olmos wrapped up the day, 2-for-3 with a double.
Sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) earned the nod in the circle, but threw just 2.2 innings while giving up five runs on six hits and striking out one. In relief the Eagles were forced to use both Minsker and Miranda. Minsker replaced Trujillo in the third but failed to retire a batter, allowing three runs on three hits before Miranda got the call from the pen. Gong 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, Miranda surrendered just two hits while striking out one.
Eastern Michigan broke the game open with two hits in the first inning. Senior Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) singled with one out and senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) ripped a two-out single to center, putting two on for Duffy. Looking for her third hit of the day, Duffy's knuckling pop up was snagged by WMU's second baseman, ending the threat.
The Broncos followed suit in their half of the first, putting two on with two out, but Trujillo shook off a pair of singles and fanned the batter for her first strikeout of the afternoon to retire WMU.
Olmos kept the Eagles offense rolling in the second inning, poking a single into left with one out. Whitbeck replaced her on first as a pinch runner, and after a fly out, successfully stole second to move into scoring position for freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview). With Whitbeck in scoring position, Logan hit a chopper to third for the final out of the frame.
The Eagles offense rolled into the second where the Green and White plated two runs on three hits and an error after Trujillo kept WMU at bay. Freshman Lucy Lopez (Ventura, Calif.-Stockdale) singled up the middle and then moved all the way around to third before crossing the plate on an RBI single by Clark. Duffy continued the inning with an RBI double to the fence in right center, scoring Clark all the way from first to push EMU's edge to 2-0.
Western broke the Eagles momentum in its half of the third, erupting for eight runs on seven hits. WMU put an eight-spot up on the scoreboard with a two-out rally that saw the Eagles make two pitching changes. Trujillo exited the game with Minsker entering in relief. Unable to retire a batter, the Green and White went back to the bullpen, this time bringing in Miranda. The freshman hurler caught the Bronco batter with an off-speed pitch and fielded a slow roller back to the circle to get the Eagles out of the inning. With three innings complete, the Eagles trailed, 8-2.
Over the next five innings, the two squads combined for four hits, but failed to push any more across the plate, as the Green and White fell, 8-2.
The Eagles close out the 2016 campaign tomorrow, May 7, at Fran Ebert Field with the final game of the weekend series versus the Broncos. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 0, Western Michigan 4
Senior Aoife Duffy (Powell, Ohio-Olentangy Liberty) recorded two of the Eagles' three hits in the game, picking up her seventh multi-hit game of the season in a 2-for-3 effort.
The pitching was touched up for eight hits and four runs in the loss, while just two of the four runs were earned. Freshman Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) was handed the loss, lasting just 2.1 innings while allowing two earned runs. Junior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) made a relief appearance in the circle. Tossing 3.2 innings, Minsker did not allow an earned run while striking out two.
Miranda and the Eagles ran into trouble in the bottom of the first. A leadoff bloop-single was followed by a sacrifice bunt and a walk, putting two on with one out for WMU, at which point EMU settled in defensively. Miranda battled back in the count and induced a fly out before promptly sending the next batter down on strikes to end Western Michigan's threat and maintain the scoreless tie.
A liner into left popped out of the glove of a diving Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt), putting the leadoff runner aboard for the Broncos in the third. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second before a single laced through the left side gave Western a 1-0 lead with one out. The next batter followed suit, singling to left, forcing EMU to go to the bullpen early. Minsker entered in relief and walked the first batter she faced before back-to-back RBI singles pushed the Broncos' lead to 3-0. After Western tacked on another run, Minsker ended the inning with a strikeout to take the game to the fourth with EMU trailing 4-0.
The Eagles had a chance to get a few back in the fifth. Freshman Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) reached on an errant throw before senior Elaine Whitbeck (Holland, Mich.-West Ottawa) came in as a pinch runner and immediately swiped second. A single through the right side by Duffy put runners at the corners with one out. A ground out moved the runner from first to second, but could not knock in Whitbeck from third before a rundown and a strikeout ended EMU's scoring chance.
From that point on, Minsker kept the Bronco offense at bay, bringing the Eagles to bat in the top of seventh. Trailing 4-0, a two-out single by Duffy was all EMU could muster as the Green and White dropped game one.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 2, Western Michigan 8
Three Eagles picked up multi-hit efforts in the second leg of the twin bill as Clark, Duffy, and sophomore Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) recorded two hits apiece. Clark went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Duffy also turned in a 2-for-4 showing with an RBI double. Olmos wrapped up the day, 2-for-3 with a double.
Sophomore Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) earned the nod in the circle, but threw just 2.2 innings while giving up five runs on six hits and striking out one. In relief the Eagles were forced to use both Minsker and Miranda. Minsker replaced Trujillo in the third but failed to retire a batter, allowing three runs on three hits before Miranda got the call from the pen. Gong 3.1 scoreless innings in relief, Miranda surrendered just two hits while striking out one.
Eastern Michigan broke the game open with two hits in the first inning. Senior Abby Davidson (Westerville, Ohio-Olentangy Orange) singled with one out and senior Abi Clark (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) ripped a two-out single to center, putting two on for Duffy. Looking for her third hit of the day, Duffy's knuckling pop up was snagged by WMU's second baseman, ending the threat.
The Broncos followed suit in their half of the first, putting two on with two out, but Trujillo shook off a pair of singles and fanned the batter for her first strikeout of the afternoon to retire WMU.
Olmos kept the Eagles offense rolling in the second inning, poking a single into left with one out. Whitbeck replaced her on first as a pinch runner, and after a fly out, successfully stole second to move into scoring position for freshman Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview). With Whitbeck in scoring position, Logan hit a chopper to third for the final out of the frame.
The Eagles offense rolled into the second where the Green and White plated two runs on three hits and an error after Trujillo kept WMU at bay. Freshman Lucy Lopez (Ventura, Calif.-Stockdale) singled up the middle and then moved all the way around to third before crossing the plate on an RBI single by Clark. Duffy continued the inning with an RBI double to the fence in right center, scoring Clark all the way from first to push EMU's edge to 2-0.
Western broke the Eagles momentum in its half of the third, erupting for eight runs on seven hits. WMU put an eight-spot up on the scoreboard with a two-out rally that saw the Eagles make two pitching changes. Trujillo exited the game with Minsker entering in relief. Unable to retire a batter, the Green and White went back to the bullpen, this time bringing in Miranda. The freshman hurler caught the Bronco batter with an off-speed pitch and fielded a slow roller back to the circle to get the Eagles out of the inning. With three innings complete, the Eagles trailed, 8-2.
Over the next five innings, the two squads combined for four hits, but failed to push any more across the plate, as the Green and White fell, 8-2.
The Eagles close out the 2016 campaign tomorrow, May 7, at Fran Ebert Field with the final game of the weekend series versus the Broncos. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KUS (14-14)
L: Miranda, Nicolle (9-18)
Base Running:
SB: Whitbeck, Elaine 1
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Batting:
RBI: GAMBOA 1 ; STONER 1 ; SCHEFKA 1 ; WYMAN 1
SH: SCHAAF 2 ; STONER 1
SF: WYMAN 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PALMER 1 ; GAMBOA 1 ; CICHOCKI 1 ; CRAUN 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
3B/OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
1B/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
2B/SS
/ SoftballOF/C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25